17 Incredible Places You Should Travel Alone In Your Twenties

Just you, your suitcase, and the globe.

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share their most life-changing solo travel adventures. Here are some of the best responses:

1. The Croatian coast

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"A few years ago, I backpacked along the Croatian coast for a week. And it is still, hands-down, the best trip I've ever taken. I started in Pula in northern Croatia, the site of one of the largest Roman arenas in the world, and made my way down the coast to Zadar. From Zadar, I day-tripped to Plitvice Lakes and marveled at the beauty of the crystalline waters of the cascading lakes. It just might be the most beautiful place on earth. And I ended my trip, Game of Thrones-style, in Dubrovnik. I stayed in hostels along the way, so the total cost of the trip wasn't bad at all, and I met the nicest people along the way. I'd recommend this trip to absolutely anyone." —Jon-Michael Poff

2. Ireland

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"I just got back from a solo trip to Ireland last week. I spent the week traveling up the western coast and it was by far the most amazing thing I have done. The connection you make with a place or country is completely different when you’re alone. Everyone asked if I was scared or nervous and I can honestly say I wasn’t. I knew I would be fine and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

—beccaahhh

3. Paris

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"During my semester abroad, I spent a weekend in the city of love hitting up the museums, eating dinner in fabulous restaurants, and snacking on croissants. Instead of sharing it with a partner, I learned to love myself by spending time in the Louvre, staring at the Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc de Triumph and people watching from the banks of the Seine."

—tessh5

4. England

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"After college graduation (Go Cougs), I travelled all around England for just under three weeks. It was an amazing trip. It was made possible by my godmother, who had left me some money after she died. I truly feel that this was a trip that we would have taken together and I know that she would have been so proud of me. I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. All of my friends said that I was crazy to go out alone in a country where I knew no one, that I would feel afraid and that I wouldn’t want to go out anywhere, but I never felt that way. I felt empowered."

—Clarissa Ramey

5. Hawaii

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"I took myself to Hawaii for a week when I was 23 and it was the most rewarding and rejuvenating experience of my life. I booked the tickets on a whim at a time in my life when I had no control over the things around me, and I just needed to get away. It’s perfect for the solo traveler! Hawaii was far enough away to feel like I escaped but safe enough that I felt comfortable going alone. Everyone there is extremely happy, relaxed and friendly. Everywhere I went locals were happy to help me get around or talk to me at the bar during dinner. The beaches are wonderful and make for a full day of activity that isn’t weird to do solo. Everyone should travel alone at least once and Hawaii is a great place to start!"

—nicoleb48c50a074

6. Japan

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"The plane tickets can be pricey but Japan is great for solo travel. It is one of the safest countries in the world and there are tons of good hostels in all the major cities. Nowhere else I’ve ever been is so packed with interesting stuff as Japan. You can’t throw a stick without hitting something cool or wacky or historical. And while, no, not a lot of people speak English with any fluency, people are helpful and generally pretty patient. The trains and buses are everywhere and pretty easy to figure out, so you can get almost anywhere. And the country has been traveled so much by foreigners that there are tons of guides on things to see and how to get around. I would say it’s worth it to rent a mobile hot spot so you can look things up on the go. With a smartphone in your pocket, Japan is your oyster."

—bandezanne

7. Bologna, Italy

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"My first solo trip was to Bologna, Italy. At first I was really regretting not going on a trip with friends as I sat next to a group of girls at the gate, but by the end of the trip I was more than elated that I had gone alone. I finished a book all about solo girl travels (What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding) right before leaving, and it was a perfect inspiration. Every time I felt lonely, I remembered how Kristin Newman (the author) learned to be at peace with her own thoughts and I was okay again. My favorite part of the trip was when I accidentally bought a train ticket to the wrong place, but ended up in a small city called Bassano del Grappa. I was able to make the decision to go there instead on a whim, and do whatever I damn well pleased when I got there. I learned a lot about myself in my capabilities of travel and communication. I’d never trade my solo travel experience for anything and I can’t wait to do it again."

—katier4c75c4cd2

8. Madrid

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"Madrid! I’ve done a few solo trips abroad and they’ve all been nice. I must say though that Madrid was one of my favorite places. It’s entirely safe and relatively easy to get around as well. During my time there I went to museums, saw the Russian imperial ballet, ate at the markets — all on my own time. Plus don’t even get me started about the shopping!"

—truleemadlee

9. Los Angeles

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"If you’re not ready to go international, check out coastal LA! From Venice to Palos Verdes, there’s a variety of places to explore. Save on costs by staying in hostels or using Airbnb, and biking everywhere!"

—ginam41b32b8e5

10. Barcelona

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"Whether you like art, history, or nature there is something for every traveller. It’s affordable compared to some of the other places in Europe and most importantly the subway system is AMAZING!!! I never had difficulty getting to where I needed to go. It’s perfect for a low stress, fun vacation."

—rebeccav212124

11. Lisbon, Portugal

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"Lisbon was amazing! I went by myself when I was 20 to celebrate getting my GED and my first semester in college. It was safe and the public transportation was very easy and cheap. In the center of the city almost everyone spoke English, which shouldn't be expected when you travel to a foreign speaking country, and those who didn't were still accommodating and happy to play charades. I stuffed myself with custard pastries every day. The food was great. There were lots of great hostels, the one I stayed in was in a train station. It made it wicked easy to take day trips. Overall, the whole trip didn’t cost very much. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to go again."

—MaddyOC3

12. New England

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"I just completed my first ever solo trip this past weekend! I visited several places along the New England coast including Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. I flew into Boston and stayed at an adorable bed and breakfast in York, ME and had a rental car to go everywhere in between. There was so much to see, the scenery was breathtaking, the food was incredible, and I felt completely safe the whole time. Plus, everyone I encountered was so friendly and helpful and wanted to make sure I had a good experience while there. I was worried I’d get bored or lonely by myself, but there was so much to do and see that it was never a problem. I’d definitely recommend this area for solo travel, especially if you love history and the outdoors."

—suzannes4354c5486

13. The Balkans

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"I traveled solo throughout the Balkans after graduating from university and I could not recommend it more. It is a vastly underrated area of Europe and dirt cheap. The people are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever come across and happy to share their culture with visitors. And the type of travelers that end up in this area are generally laid back and happy to explore (aka not just worried about Instagraming specific tourist spots). I met some of the greatest people during my time there and even though I was traveling alone I always felt like someone had my back, whether it was a local or fellow traveler. Not to mention the insanely beautiful views of many of these cities (Kotor and Lake Ohrid were two of my favorite spots)."

—treamariemc

14. Cuzco, Peru

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"I lived in Cuzco, Peru for six months on my own when I was 22. It's an extremely good city for foreigners because it has a large expat community, lots of English teaching jobs for native speakers, low cost of living and is extremely safe. It's a very touristy place (Machu Picchu anyone?) so even if you don't speak Spanish lots of locals know English. It's gorgeous, the weather is good, night life is as good as America, the food is some of the best in the world...I can't say anything bad. Literally the perfect place for young twentysomethings to go when they're not teens but not quite ready for full on adulthood."

—Katelyn Özdemir, Facebook

15. Cuba

instagram: @icegreenandgold

"With Cuba’s rich and interesting history, a solo traveler will find lots to do!"

—clarettasimonem

16. South America

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"I just recently returned from a four month solo trip through South America. It was simply amazing! I was nervous about traveling by myself to begin with, but as soon as I arrived in my first country, Chile, I fell into their way of life so easily.

Something no one ever tells you before you travel alone is that you are never really alone. You meet so many people who will be willing to do the things you want to do, with you! I met so many different people, which I don’t think would have happened if I had travelled with someone. El Chalten in Argentina was one of my favorite places here. It’s a small town set in the middle of a national park, so it’s surrounded by mountains, lakes and waterfalls. It has so many different walks you can do, both with tours or by yourself, so this is a great way to save some costs! I also really loved Buenos Aires. It was the most beautiful city in South America, & the ultimate place to see some real tango!"

—ifrknlovetacos

17. New Zealand

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"I lived in New Zealand for a year — moved there right after I turned 24 with a very simple-to-get visa for a working holiday. It was easy to find a job and I found that everyone was super friendly, interested in why I picked their little country, and of course the country is STUNNING. Never once did I feel unwelcome, and I met several other young foreign women traveling alone, many of whom hitch hiked around the country and couchsurfed to save money. The great part about working there was the really high minimum wage, and the cultural focus on work/life balance meant I made more than enough to live close to the beach and save for travel, plus I was entitled to paid vacation. If you’re thinking about it already, don’t — just go!"

—rachelanneh

Note: Some submissions may have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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